We concluded the “Thirty Sayings to the Wise” in the last
post. This post will cover some
additional “Sayings to the Wise”, beginning in Chapter 24:23, which is the
transitional verse using the word “also”.
Actually, this refers to the remaining verses in chapter 24. We’ll talk about chapter 25 and following in
a moment.
Think on verses 23-25.
When we allow the guilty to go unpunished, we have perverted
justice. It happens all the time. We pervert justice in the name of mercy. Showing mercy always sounds like the Godly
thing to do, and by it we can rationalize many short-sighted decisions. But these verses offer a stern word of
caution about this. By allowing the
guilty to go unpunished, we are placing him in the same status as the
innocent. By the same token (and this is
where it gets sticky) we are placing the innocent in the same status with the
guilty. Think on that. The Scripture goes so far to suggest here
that even other nations will scoff at one who allows the guilty to go free and
imprisons the innocent. A successful
society (nation) must have a justice system that works, without compromise or
prejudices.
Verse 27 is good, practical advice. Simply, do the most important work
first. {It’s of no value to have a nice
house if the crops have not been planted.
You will simply starve in a nice house.
It is never difficult to discern which task is most important.}
Verse 29 is emphatic in telling us not to
take revenge on our neighbors. God has reserved vengeance for Himself, and He
shares that authority with no one. The
remainder of this chapter deals with laziness.
Chapter 25 introduces a new set of proverbs. It says in the first verse that Hezekiah’s
men compiled some additional proverbs from Solomon. {I’m sure Hezekiah himself gave this
directive. In our study of Hezekiah we
found him to be a good king, seeking God’s direction. Although Hezekiah lived about 250 years after
Solomon, he probably wanted to pattern his reign after that of Solomon.} You’ll find these proverbs to be a bit
lengthier and less “choppy” than the aphorisms we read in chapters 10 –
22. Many are grouped in pairs. I shall go through the next few chapters,
commenting on various subjects as addressed in this section of this wonderful
book. In verse 4 it mentions removing
the dross from silver (dross is the impurities) and explains itself in the
following verse. We cannot produce
anything good until we remove the wicked and rotten. It’s talking about people.
Verse 5 was speaking of the king’s court,
justice being the main focus.
I’ve used verses 6 and 7 many times. Picture a large group of people being invited
to a banquet in the presence of the king.
These verses are telling you not to seat yourself in the front. This is a large risk. It would be humiliating if you were then
asked to take a seat in the back. On the
other hand, if you voluntarily take a seat in the back, and you were brought
forward, it will bring you indescribable honor.
This thinking can be applied in so many of life’s situations.
Verses 17 can be paraphrased by the ever-familiar “Don’t
wear out your welcome”.
Another
ever-familiar paraphrase can be applied to verses 21 and 22: “Kill him with kindness”. Works every time.
25:24, 27:15 and others speak of the
unpleasantness of living with a loud or quarrelsome wife. This chapter’s final verses speak of
self-control, when eating and otherwise.
Chapter 26 continues with the collection for Hezekiah. The first 16 verses warn us about dealing at
all with a fool. We are not to argue
with him or try to reason with him. In fact we
are not to waste any of our time with him, as it would prove itself a total
waste of time and effort, to be better spent elsewhere.
Look at verse 17. It
says simply to mind your own business.
Don’t involve yourself in someone else’s quarrel. {Sufficient are your own problems to keep you
busy.}
Verses 18 and 19 describe a person some of us know all too
well. This is a person who causes
trouble with his words, and when people expose his words as causing unnecessary
trouble, he says “I was just kidding.
Can’t you take a joke”? I can
vividly remember one person in particular that I knew when I was a child. He did this all the time.
The remainder of this chapter speaks of the deceitfulness of
charming speech and gossip.
I like the way chapter 27 starts out. Never boast about tomorrow. You cannot be sure anything in the future
except God Himself.
Verses 9 and 10
speak of friends and how much value we can put on them. A friend is a precious thing. A synonym for precious is “priceless”. Friends are to be considered this way. A true friend is a rare commodity these
days. Verse 10 even says to value a
friend of your family. This is to be
done to further secure one’s friendship, as it should be extended to all family
members.
Verse 19 is a good verse to
commit to memory. “As water reflects the
face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
People (especially your children) are watching everything you do. No matter what you tell people about yourself
and your convictions, your life will tell the true story of your heart. {Isn’t the Bible wonderful?}
Verses 20 and 21 tell us that no matter how much time and
effort you might put into trying to teach a foolish person, he will still be a
fool, doing and saying foolish things.
The last five verses tell us simply to work hard. Pay attention to your flocks (your responsibilities). Work diligently and you will provide for your
family, your servants, and yourself.
We should finish the Book of Proverbs in the next post,
beginning in chapter 28.
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